Houston man sentenced for fatally shooting ex and fleeing to his mom’s N.C. home

HOUSTON (TCD) -- A 34-year-old man will spend 40 years behind bars after fatally shooting his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend and fleeing to North Carolina in 2020.

According to a news release from Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, in 2016, Corey Campbell moved to Houston from North Carolina and worked in construction. He and Darlene Solis reportedly dated on an off for approximately three years, and he continued to work various construction jobs around the country.

In 2020, Campbell allegedly stayed with Solis in her apartment while he was between construction jobs. He and Solis were no longer together at the time, and she was reportedly dating another man, but she "wanted to help out her ex-boyfriend" anyway.

According to Ogg, on April 28, 2020, Campbell shot Solis four times while they were alone in her apartment, and he left the .40-caliber pistol under the bed. After fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Campbell reportedly drove to North Carolina and left the car in a Walmart parking lot, and his mother picked him up.

Solis’ mother hadn’t heard from her for two days and asked her husband at the time, a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, to investigate further, Ogg said. The deputy reportedly went to Solis’ apartment with his body camera turned on and found her deceased. He subsequently called police and later testified in court, using his body camera footage as evidence.

Houston Police detectives spoke with a witness who was in contact with Campbell in North Carolina, and he knew the location and brand of the pistol. As a result of their investigation, police arrested Campbell, and he was extradited back to Houston.

Ogg announced April 25 that a jury convicted Campbell of murder, and he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Campbell will have to serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Many of Solis’ family members were present for the two-week trial, including her mother, who read a victim impact statement.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan McLearen said, "This was the woman he claimed that he loved, but he killed her in cold blood and then ran off. He took a daughter, he took a sister, he took an aunt, and the jury handed down the right sentence."

Ogg added, "We stand with the family and mourn for this vibrant young woman who was cut down in her prime for absolutely no reason. Far too often, domestic violence leads to gun violence, and it is just senseless."

MORE:

• Killer Who Fled to North Carolina After Slaying Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison — Harris County District Attorney’s Office